英國政府已證實，英格蘭地區將禁止使用塑料餐具、餐盤和聚苯乙烯托盤等一次性物品。英國環境大臣特雷絲·科菲說，此舉將有助于保護環境，造福后代。

Each person in England gets through an average of 18 single-use plastic plates and 37 plastic items of cutlery every year, according to government figures. Just ten per cent are recycled. A plastic fork can take 200 years to decompose in landfill or in the ocean.

政府數據顯示，英格蘭人均每年使用18個一次性塑料餐盤和37件塑料餐具，而其中只有10%被回收利用。一個塑料叉在垃圾填埋場或海洋中可能需要200年才能降解。

Now the Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey is set to ban a range of single-use plastic items, mainly relating to takeaway food and drink. She said the move would prevent billions of pieces of plastic from polluting the natural environment.

現在，英國環境大臣特雷絲·科菲計劃禁用一系列一次性塑料制品，主要針對外賣食品和飲料使用的餐具。她表示，該舉將防止數十億塊塑料污染自然環境。

Similar bans have already been introduced in Scotland and Wales, while single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds were banned in England in 2020.

類似的禁令已在蘇格蘭和威爾士實施，而英格蘭于2020年已經禁用一次性塑料吸管、攪拌棒和棉簽。

This latest move follows a long consultation but does not cover items found in supermarkets or shops. The Government said it would address those by other means. Environmental campaigners have welcomed the ban but called for a wider-ranging plastic reduction strategy.

這項最新舉措是經過長時間的公共意見征詢后決定的，但禁令不包括超市或商店中的一次性塑料餐具。政府表示將通過其它方式解決這類塑料問題。環境保護主義者對這項禁令表示支持，但呼吁制定更廣泛的減少塑料的戰略。

詞匯表

single-use 一次性的
cutlery 餐具
decompose 降解，分解
landfill 垃圾填埋場
stirrers （飲料）攪拌棒
cotton buds 棉簽

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. How many single-use plastic plates do people in England use on average, each year?

2. True or False? A single-use plastic fork takes a maximum of two years to decompose in landfill or in the ocean.

3. What single-use items were banned in the England in 2020?

4. What items are not covered by the new ban?

答案  

1. How many single-use plastic plates do people use in England on average, each year?
On average, people use 18 single-use plastic plates in England, each year.

2. True or False? A single-use plastic fork takes a maximum of two years to decompose in landfill or in the ocean.
False. A plastic fork can take 200 years to decompose in landfill or in the ocean.

3. What single-use items were banned in the England in 2020?
Single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds were banned in England in 2020.

4. What items are not covered by the new ban?
This latest move follows a long consultation but does not cover items found in supermarkets or shops.